BREAKING Maia Sandu announces a violent Russian plan with attacks and hostage-taking to destabilize Moldova. Domestic forces associated with fugitive oligarchs Shor and Plahotniuc, as well as citizens of Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro, are expected to be involved in the operation

Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced in a press statement on Monday that the Russian Federation is carrying out a plan of action to oust the democratically elected leadership in Chisinau. She cited in this regard both information obtained by domestic authorities and information from partners such as Ukraine.

She also said that the first part of the plan took place at the end of last year but failed. Russia’s plan to destabilize Moldova would rely on violent attacks and even hostage-taking, Maia Sandu said.

Domestic forces associated with fugitive oligarchs Ilan Shor and Vlad Plahotniuc, as well as citizens from Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro, would be involved in the operation, according to Maia Sandu.

Maia Sandu made the statements two days after nominating Dorin Recean, her security adviser, as prime minister.

Maia Sandu’s main statements:

Ukrainian President Zelenski’s statements about Russia’s plans to destabilize Moldova have been confirmed by our institutions.

Russia’s plan is not new. Attempts to destabilize the country were made last autumn, but they did not achieve their goal. In October-December 2022, the Police and the SIS Intelligence Service intervened in several cases of criminal elements’ organization and stopped attempts of violence. In autumn, the focus was on the energy crisis, which was supposed to lead to violent protests.

The plan for the coming period involves actions involving diversionary with military training, disguised as civilians, to carry out violent actions, attack state buildings and take hostages.

Violent actions, disguised as protests by the so-called opposition, would force a change of power in Chisinau.

The documents received from the Ukrainian partners show a good documentation of the locations and logistical aspects of the organization of these subversive activities. The plan involves the use of outsiders for violent actions. The materials contain instructions on the rules of entry into Moldova for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro. I assure you that the institutions are working to prevent such situations.

The perpetrators are counting on several internal forces, but in particular on criminal groups such as the Shor party, some veterans and people with links to Plahotniuc.

The aim of these actions is to overthrow the constitutional order, to change the legitimate power to an illegitimate one that would put our country at the disposal of Russia.

In order to prevent this scenario, I call on all institutions to show maximum vigilance. Parliament must swiftly adopt bills giving the SIS and the Prosecutor’s Office the necessary powers to defend the constitutional order.

The most aggressive force of attack is the cyber attack.

The Kremlin’s attempts to bring violence to Moldova will not succeed